🦾Jepson Taylor

I build stuff that doesn’t exist, an AI explorer. 
Unfortunately I have too many connections so please follow me instead. 

人工智能 (Chinese)
人工知能 (Japanese)
कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता (hindi)
الذكاء الاصطناعي (Standard Arabic)
কৃত্রিম বুদ্ধিমত্তা (Bengali)
искусственный интеллект (Russian)

I watch the watchers, I direct the learners. 

I am passionate about machine learning. My life's mission is to further the boundaries of what is possible with data science. I spend as much time as I can working with deep learning, NLP, and all forms of data science. I currently have a passion project I am managing where I am combining the power of genetic programming with deep learning to automate network design. I think there is a trend happening in data science where human expertise and creativity are being replaced by powerful new methods (i.e. deep learning, big data). 

I am most well known for my machine learning work with the data science community and with HireVue. With the community, I enjoy posting opinions on jobs and tutorials on ML methods. I also enjoy speaking and presenting to all types of audiences. 

I've enjoyed working across engineering, product, sales, marketing, and customer success. This wider POV has helped shape the way I think about innovation, from the innovation farm to the customer's table ;)

CEO/founder VEOX

VEOX Inc is revolutionizing the AI industry by creating an AI-driven algorithm factory, compressing decades of progress into moments. Our technology automates AI science research, continuously improving algorithm efficiency and outperforming human-made algorithms. VEOX is not just building another AI company; we're catalyzing an explosion of technological advancements that will reshape the entire tech landscape. Join us in accelerating intelligence beyond human limits and leading the next wave of AI breakthroughs.

Jepson Taylor

George Firican

💬 Founder of LightsOnData.com and LightsOnData YouTube Channel
Focused on providing informative content such as ONLINE COURSES, templates, guides, best practices, articles, white papers, and other useful resources to help you with your data governance and data management questions and challenges

💬 Creator of online courses that are engaging, new, and thorough. 
Courses: Building an Award-Winning Business Glossary, Data Governance Maturity Models, Data Governance Fundamentals, etc. - check them out here: https://www.lightsondata.com/courses/

💬 Providing LinkedIn content strategy for data-focused companies and products, as well as those with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), business intelligence (BI, data science, data management, and data governance areas.
Connect with me today and ask how I can help you reach the data audience.

💬 Host of Lights on Data Show - a podcast and LinkedIn Live weekly show that provides insights into the data world and showcases people that help to shape it.

💬 Get some fun data merchandise here: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/lightsondata/all

💬 International key note speaker, conference speaker, and panelist (spoken at over 60 different conferences).

💬 I love being on camera, hiking, surfing, filming, and video editing
YouTube: @LightsOnData


🏛 My experience and specialties: 
• Expertise in data governance, information quality, business intelligence & data management
• Extensive background in web and application development with experience of the full life-cycle of a project
• Strong leadership capabilities, organizational and communication skills

Specialties: 
• Enterprise information management: Information quality, data governance and stewardship, master data management, business intelligence, business process improvement
• Development: Web and application development, relational database design and development
• Planning: Budget and resource planning, agile and waterfall project management, team development and leadership
• Tools and Applications: Collibra, Tableau, MS Visio, MS Project, Premiere, Photoshop

Director, Data Governance & Business Intelligence

George Firican 💡

When your boss asks you to be the Data Governance Lead.

Does it resonate?

But no worries, you will succeed.

If you need tips and tricks and TEMPLATES to make your life easier, checkout my course on Practical Data Governance: Implementation.

And my LightsOnData YouTube channel. 

#datagovernance #aigovernance #data

💡 Award Winning Data Governance Leader | Content Creator & Influencer | Founder of LightsOnData | Podcast Host: Lights On Data Show | LinkedIn Top Voice

Sometimes it’s all about timing.

The same data.
The same insight.
The same recommendation.

Different moment → different outcome.

Before the problem is visible: resistance.
When the pain is obvious: alignment.
After the crisis: urgency.

We often judge ideas by reaction.
But reaction is shaped by readiness.

Good ideas need good data, but also the right timing.

Happy Friday! Let’s keep putting the LightsOnData.
-George Firican 

#data #business

Pst…there’s a raffle coming up for a chance to snag a cool grand prize!

Join me at Data & Analytics After Hours on Monday, March 9th, 5:00–6:30 PM in the Exhibitor Showcase at the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit! 

I’ll be there with the wonderful:

💡Kate Strachnyi 
💡SCOTT TAYLOR  
💡Ravit Jain 
💡Aditi Jain  
💡Andreas Welsch 

Let me know if you can join.

Still need to register? Use code DATA2 to save $450 off registration: https://lnkd.in/gZh6rfQC

#GartnerDA #DataCommunity #DataSummit

What does it mean to love your data?

Not in a sentimental way. In a practical one.

It means caring about its quality. Giving it clear definitions. Knowing where it comes from and who owns it. Making sure it is used responsibly and with respect.

We often say data is an asset. But the organizations that truly get value from it are the ones that treat it like something worth nurturing, protecting, and investing in over time.

Because neglected data does not stay lovable for long.

So this Valentine’s Day, here is a simple question:
“Are you just collecting data, or are you actually caring for it?”

Let’s keep putting the Lights On Data (even On Valentine’s Day)!
-George Firican 

#dataquality #datagovernance #data

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How do you scale AI without increasing risk at the same time?
Well…

Many organizations are still trying to figure this out.

Moving AI into production isn’t just a technology challenge.
It’s an AI and data governance challenge.
A risk challenge.

And often a coordination challenge between data, data science, and risk teams.

If this question is on your mind, this session at the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit should be an interesting one to attend.

Join Ali Can Toprak (Enterprise Data Governance Manager at ExxonMobil) and Felix Van de Maele (CEO & Co-Founder of Collibra) as they discuss how data management is evolving into a unified AI governance discipline.

What you’ll learn:
✅ How to bridge the gap between data, data science, and risk teams
✅ The secret to building a shared semantic context to scale AI
✅ How ExxonMobil strengthens accountability across the enterprise

⏱️ 1:15-1:45 PM 
📍 Sun 4, Level 2

See you there!

#data #AI #datagovernance #partnerpost

Collibra Gartner 2026 George Firican Felix Van de Maele

There was a large exodus from ChatGPT lately.
So which is your go-to LLM?

Graphic Source: Amit Rawal  

#llm #AI

Italy is known for many things: culture, incredible food, beautiful landscapes.
But during my visit, I also discovered something else:

Innovation.

At the Italian Pavilion I met Donato De Ieso (Co-Founder and CEO of dillium), who showed me what they are building with spatial computing and the Apple Vision Pro.

One example that stood out: creating interactive 3D models from simple photos.
Imagine being able to:

✅ Take a photo of a product and instantly turn it into a 3D model
✅ Zoom in, rotate it, or even explore inside it
✅ Break it apart piece by piece to understand how it works

This has huge implications for training, maintenance, design, and product visualization. Instead of transporting large equipment or complex machinery, you can interact with it digitally in a shared spatial environment.

It felt a bit like stepping into a "Tony Stark style" interface.

What I find fascinating is how technologies like spatial computing move us from just looking at data and models on a screen to actually interacting with them.

And that opens the door to entirely new ways of learning, collaborating, and making decisions.

Sometimes innovation shows up in the places you least expect it. Even between a cafe latte and a plate of pasta in Italy.

What industries do you think will benefit the most from spatial computing?

#innovation #VR #technology

Would you like one of these modular phones/ gadgets?

Why do you think these aren’t taking off?

Note: video not mine

#technology #tech #gadget

One of the most valuable things you get from the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit is perspective.

Not just from the sessions.
From the people.

At this summit there are hundreds of conversations happening between data leaders, architects, analysts, and governance professionals.

Some will be about AI.
Some about data platforms.
Some about governance and trust.

But many of the most interesting insights is also happening in the hallways, between sessions, and during those spontaneous meetups with people who care about the same challenges you do.

These are the conversations that spark ideas.
The ones that turn into collaborations months later.
The ones that remind you how strong and passionate this data community really is.

Looking forward to reconnecting with friends and meeting new people over the next few days.

If you are here as well, come say hello.

What is one topic you are most excited to discuss or learn about this week?

#Data #AI #GartnerDA

When at Gartner Data & Analytics Summit…

You do many things:

✅ Get data-driven insights
✅ Validate your strategy from their on-site data , analytics, and AI experts
✅ Learn what’s new in the vendor space

And of course NETWORKING!

Hope to see you there. I’ll be on the floor covering the event and conducting some interviews.

Use my discount code: DATA2 to get $450 off your registration.
https://lnkd.in/gZh6rfQC

#data #AI #GartnerDA
Note: Proud to be an official sponsor of the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit

At the Zoho Analytics booth, we had a really interesting discussion about where analytics is heading across industries and…

…what it takes to turn data into decisions that actually shape how organizations operate.

And of course, there was a live demo.
It’s always fascinating to see how it approaches the journey from data → agentic insight → decision.

I also had the chance to sit down with Sailas Sundaram, Head of Product Strategy at Zoho Analytics, for a conversation about the evolving role of analytics and what teams should be thinking about as AI becomes more embedded in how we work with data.

(The full interview will be coming next week so watch out this space.)

I’m curious:
“What do you most want to see when a vendor gives an analytics demo at a conference?”

#data #analytics #AI

How many of you have run into these problems when trying to move AI into production?

⚠️ Governance and access issues
⚠️ Missing business context
⚠️ Data that can’t be trusted

This is where many promising AI initiatives stall.
The model works. The pilot looks great.

But connecting AI to real enterprise production data turns out to be the hard part.

If you’re here at Gartner D & A Summit 2026, this session tackles that exact challenge:
“AI Has a Production Data Problem. Here’s How Teams Are Solving It”

⏱️ Monday, March 9 | 1:40 - 2:00 PM
📍 Theater 1, Exhibit Showcase

The session explores how organizations are moving AI into production with Simba Intelligence, giving AI governed access to enterprise data without copying data, breaking pipelines, or losing control.

If you're curious how teams are solving this, it’s worth attending.

And if you'd like to start or continue the conversation, visit Simba Intelligence from insightsoftware at Booth 329.

#data #artificialintelligence #AI #partnerpost

In my opinion, observability is a data problem.
The reason it hurts is a clarity problem.

AI is accelerating system complexity faster than humans can reason about it manually. That does not create a lack of data. It exposes how hard it is to decide which signals matter and what action should follow.

Most teams are not lacking dashboards, metrics, logs, or traces. 
They are lacking shared understanding about which signals matter and when action should follow.

An alternative way to think about this is treating observability data as something to reason over, not just visualize. That is what I am curious to see at the upcoming New Relic Advance, where new features in the Agentic Platform will be showcased.

Date/ Time: February 24 at 9AM PT / 12PM ET
Location: Virtual
Details here: https://lnkd.in/gPcCjXhd

What do you think is missing today: better data, better context, or better decisions?

Hope to see you there!
#observability #data #NewRelicAdvance

Did you know the Inca civilization managed one of the largest empires in the Americas without a written language?

Instead, they used quipu. A system of knotted cords that allowed them to record numbers, track resources, and manage logistics across thousands of miles of roads.

All of that… centuries before spreadsheets, databases, or dashboards.

Sipping a cafe latte in an old Inca town made me think about how humans have always tried to bring order to information. Whether through knots in rope or modern data platforms, the goal has not changed much.

Understand what you have.
Organize it well.
Use it to make better decisions.

Different tools. Same mission.

Sometimes data history goes back further than we think.

Let’s keep putting the LightsOnData.
-George Firican 

#data #history

At conferences, I usually ask vendors one question:
“How does this help shape a decision?”

Not a prettier or quicker dashboard. A decision.

This year, I’m curious how analytics platforms are handling the shift toward AI-assisted and agentic experiences.

When a platform talks about AI-assisted or agentic analytics, I’m especially interested in:
✅ How it sits on top of a real data foundation
✅ How the semantic layer holds up
✅ How it helps shape decisions in practice 

That’s the lens I’m bringing to the Gartner floor this year.

Zoho Analytics is at Booth 428 and offering on-site demos, so if you’re evaluating BI or analytics platforms, it’s a chance to explore how they’re approaching this shift.

You can book a demo slot here:
https://lnkd.in/ekEpps8g 
Now I’m genuinely curious:

When you visit analytics booths at Gartner, what do you actually want to see demonstrated?

#data #analytics #partnerpost

AI fails without NCOA data.
Not because the model is weak, but because the context it relies on is wrong.

When address data is outdated, AI starts making quiet assumptions that break things downstream:
⚠️ Householding breaks. People who no longer live together are grouped, while actual households are missed. Segmentation slowly drifts.

⚠️ Location based logic fails. Geography, service regions, eligibility, and personalization are all inferred from an address that may no longer be true.

⚠️ Agent reasoning becomes misaligned. AI depends on context to reason correctly. When that context is wrong, the reasoning layer amplifies the error.

--
Address data is an operational concern. But not only!
It is also foundational context for AI.

If you are building AI agents, personalization, or decisioning without reliable address change data, you are training intelligence on broken assumptions.

Sometimes fixing AI starts with fixing the basics.

Checkout the LightsOnData Show podcast episode where Scott Eganhouse and I talk about NCOA.

#dataquality #data #ai

Turning retail data into real business results can be a tough problem, but the solution isn’t more tech. It starts with grounding your data strategy in business outcomes and building from there.

In this article, I break down how retail teams can move from disconnected dashboards and siloed analytics to a practical, value-focused data strategy. 

Key lessons include: 
1️⃣ Start with the business problem not the tools + Clarify the goal first (like reducing churn or improving customer experience)
2️⃣ Empower better questions across teams so insights actually lead to action
3️⃣ Put data governance in place early to build trust in your numbers
4️⃣ Balance pace with capacity so you deliver wins without burning out
5️⃣ Build data literacy and ownership so everyone speaks the same language 

I also cover where the retail data push usually starts, how AI fits in practically (not hype), and what future trends are shaping smarter operations. 

If you work in retail or data and want strategies that actually move the needle, I hope this will help you:
https://lnkd.in/gEubetHW

Why does FSA/ MEBS represent a step-change in enterprise modeling?

Checkout this latest article from Robert Vane as he goes over:
✅ Why We Keep Failing at “Enterprise Modeling”
✅ The Insight: Business Behaviour Is Largely Deterministic
✅ A New Foundation for Deterministic Enterprise Modeling
✅ Why This Matters for Today’s Data & EA Community
✅ Why This Work Is Gaining Momentum

and much more:
https://lnkd.in/gyqdgvBW

#datamodel #dataarchitecture #data

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George Firican 💡

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George Firican 💡

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Likes

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